Desenvolvimento de um Sistema de Visão Global para uma Frota de Mini-Robôs Móveis

Navigation based on visual feedback for robots, working in a closed environment, can be obtained settling a camera in each robot (local vision system). However, this solution requests a camera and capacity of local processing for each robot. When possible, a global vision system is a cheapest solution for this problem. In this case, one or a little amount of cameras, covering all the workspace, can be shared by the entire team of robots, saving the cost of a great amount of cameras and the associated processing hardware needed in a local vision system. This work presents the implementation and experimental results of a global vision system for mobile mini-robots, using robot soccer as test platform. The proposed vision system consists of a camera, a frame grabber and a computer (PC) for image processing. The PC is responsible for the team motion control, based on the visual feedback, sending commands to the robots through a radio link. In order for the system to be able to unequivocally recognize each robot, each one has a label on its top, consisting of two colored circles. Image processing algorithms were developed for the eficient computation, in real time, of all objects position (robot and ball) and orientation (robot). A great problem found was to label the color, in real time, of each colored point of the image, in time-varying illumination conditions. To overcome this problem, an automatic camera calibration, based on clustering K-means algorithm, was implemented. This method guarantees that similar pixels will be clustered around a unique color class. The obtained experimental results shown that the position and orientation of each robot can be obtained with a precision of few millimeters. The updating of the position and orientation was attained in real time, analyzing 30 frames per second

Detecção de predadores por dicromatas e tricromatas humanos e a sua implicação na evolução da visão de cores em primatas

Among placental mammals, primates are the only ones to present trichromatic color vision. However, the distribution of trichromacy among primates is not homogeneous: Old World primates shows an uniform trichromacy (with all individuals being trichromats) and New World primates exhibit a color vision polymorphism (with dichromatic males and dichromatic or trichromatic females). Visual ecology studies have investigated which selective pressures may have been responsible for the evolution of trichromacy in primates, diverging from the dichromat standard found in other mammals. Cues associated with foraging and the socio-reproductive status were analyzed, indicating a trichromatic advantage for the rapid detection of visually conspicuous objects against a green background. However, dichromats are characterized by an efficient capture of cryptic and camouflaged stimuli. These advantages regarding phenotype may be responsible for the maintenance of the visual polymorphism in New World primates and for the high incidence of color blindness in humans (standing around 8% in Caucasian men). An important factor that has not yet been experimentally taken into account is the predation risk and its effect on the evolution of trichromacy in primates. To answer this question, we prepared and edited pictures of animals with different coats: oncillas (Leopardus spp.), puma (Puma concolor) and ferret (Galictis cuja). The specimens were taxidermized and the photographs were taken in three different vegetation scenarios (dense forest, cerrado and grassland). The images of the predators were manipulated so that they fit into two categories of stimulus size (small or large). After color calibration and photo editing, these were presented to 40 humans (20 dichromats and 20 trichromats) by a computer program, which presented a set of four photos at a time (one picture containing the taxidermized animal amid the background vegetation and three depicting only the background vegetation) and recorded the response latency and success rate of the subjects. The results show a trichromatic advantage in detecting potential predators. The predator detection was influenced by the background, the predator species, the dimension of the stimulus and the observer s visual phenotype. As humans have a high rate of dyschromatopsias, when compared to wild Catarrhini or human tribal populations, it is possible that the increased rate of dichromats is a result of reduced pressure for rapid predator detection. Since our species came to live in more cohesive groups and resistant to attack by predators, with the advent of agriculture and the formation of villages, it is possible that the lower risk of predation has reduced the selection in favor of trichromats

Serviços Bancários pela Internet: um Estudo de Caso Integrando a Visão de Competidores e Clientes

RAMOS, A. S. M. ; COSTA, F. S. P. R. . Serviços Bancários pela Internet: um estudo de caso integrando a visão de competidores e clientes. RAC. Revista de Administração Contemporânea, Rio de Janeiro - ANPAD, v. 4, n. 3, p. 133-154, 2000.

Uma arquitetura distribuída de hardware e software para controle de um robô móvel autônomo

BRITTO, Ricardo S.; MEDEIROS, Adelardo A. D.; ALSINA, Pablo J. Uma arquitetura distribuída de hardware e software para controle de um robô móvel autônomo. In: SIMPÓSIO BRASILEIRO DE AUTOMAÇÃO INTELIGENTE,8., 2007, Florianópolis. Anais... Florianópolis: SBAI, 2007.

Humanização do atendimento à criança na atenção básica: visão dos profissionais

Objetivou-se compreender a humanização do atendimento à criança na Atenção Básica na visão dos profissionais. Estudo qualitativo, realizado em uma Unidade de Saúde da Família de Natal-RN, Brasil. Dezesseis profissionais responderam a um formulário contendo questões referentes ao atendimento à criança, à humanização e às práticas realizadas para humanizar o atendimento. Os dados foram categorizados por temas e analisados a partir dos princípios da Política Nacional de Humanização. Para os profissionais, humanizar o atendimento envolve acolher, escutar, aconselhar sobre o que está sendo realizado com a criança, valorizar a família, e tornar o sujeito ativo no atendimento, mesmo que de forma incipiente. A maioria dos profissionais descreveu atendimento que valorizava parte dos princípios da política de humanização, mesmo com dificuldades para implementá-los na rotina. Requer, portanto, estímulos e atualização dos profissionais para uma postura autocrítica sobre o atendimento

Gestão da cadeia de suprimento e vantagem competitiva: uma análise em setores industriais a partir da visão relacional

This work has as its main purpose to investigate the contribution of supply chain management in order to obtain competitive advantage by companies from the textile industry and from Ceará footwear industry, focusing its analysis mainly in the interorganizational relations (dyadic). For this, the theoretical referential contemplates different explanatory streams of the competitive advantage, detaching the relational perception of the resources theory, as well as, the main presuppositions of the supply chain management which culminates with the development of an analysis sample that runs the empirical study; the one which considers an expanded purpose of the supply chain which includes the government and the abetment institutions as institutional environment representatives. Besides supply chain management consideration as a competitive advantage source, the work also tried to identify other possible competitive advantage sources for the companies of the investigated sectors. It represents a study of multiple interpretive cases, having four cases as a total; meaning two cases in each one of the sectors, which used as a primary data collecting instrument a semi-structured interview schedule. Different methods were used for the data analysis, the content analysis and the constant comparison methods, the analytical procedure originated from the grounded theory research strategy, which were applied the Atlas/ti software recourse. Considering the theoretical referential and the used analysis sample, four basic categories of the work were defined, including its respective proprieties and dimensions: (1) characteristics concerning to the relationship with the supplier; (2) the company relations with the government; (3) the company relations with the abetment institutions and; (4) obtaining sources of competitive advantage. In general, the applied research in the footwear sector revealed that in the relationships of the researched companies related to its suppliers, there is a predominance of the partnership system and the main presuppositions of the supply chain management are applied which contributes for the acquisition of the relational competitive advantage; while in the textile sector, only some of these presuppositions are applied, with little contribution for the relational competitive advantage. The main resource which was accessed by the companies in both sectors through its relationships with the government and the abetment institutions are the tax incentives which, for the footwear companies, contribute for the acquisition of the temporary competitive advantage in relation to the contestants who do not own productive installations in the Northeast region, it also conducts to a competitive parity situation in relation to the contestants who own productive installations in the Northeast region and to the external market contestants; while for the companies of the textile sector, the tax incentives run the companies to a competitive parity situation in relation to its contestants. Furthermore, the investigated companies from the two sectors possess acquisition sources of the competitive advantage which collimate with different explanatory streams (industrial analysis, resources theory, Austrian school and the dynamic capabilities theory), although there is a predominance of the product innovation as a competitive advantage source in both sectors, due to the bond of these with the fashion tendencies

Marketing de relacionamento em um provedor de internet: um estudo comparativo que considera a visão gerencial e a percepção dos clientes

The current paper aims at analyzing customer retention in Internet provider services. For this study, we sought to understand what are the client's expectations regarding the services available and compare them with management perception in relation to the use of those services. Identifying the coherence level between the two points of view, management and client, it is possible to pinpoint how service is assessed in real conditions. Then, from this point on, a new vision can be implemented on available services, and new customer service strategies aiming at best serving to their expectation and need, can be rethought. The exploratory research was utilized. It was based on case study, and quantitative and qualitative methods were used. The quantitative method was done by applying the cluster technique with six variables of control derived from the six main services, whose definition was done through qualitative survey of the internal management team. Then, an structured interview with 443 clients, from a probabilistic sample of 800 costumers. The total number of active clients of the internet provider is of 10.677. Client perception in relation to services varied, if compared with the four services that were under the managerial metric method, this comparison showed a more positive evaluation than the real use of the service. Thus, it was observed that the value of each service available for the client depends on his/her perception of it, regardless of using or not the offered service. As a result, it is possible to understand which services offered by the company under study effectively contribute to a good client-company relationship, and the upkeep of those clients

Processos carioevolutivos na ordem tetraodontiformes: uma visão através de suas diferentes linhagens

Given the great diversity of fishes, the Order Tetraodontiformes stands to show genetic and morphological characteristics enough singular. The fishes of this order have a compact DNA which favors molecular studies, as well as comparisons with more basal species. Model of genome evolution, there are still many gaps in knowledge about their chromosomal patterns and how evolutionary rearrangements influence the marked variation in DNA content of this order. In view of this, we present cytogenetic analyzes of the species Acanthostracion quadricornis (Ostraciidae), A. polygonius (Ostraciidae) Melichthys niger (Balistidae) Cantherhines macrocerus (Monacanthidae) and C. pullus (Monacanthidae), Lagocephalus laevigatus, Colomesus psittacus and Canthigaster figueiredoi (Tetraodontidae), to contribute with cytogenetic data for this group. The analysis was performed by C-banding, Ag-RONs, coloring with base-specific fluorochromes DAPI-CMA3, restriction enzymes AluI, EcoRI, TaqI, PstI and HinfI and in situ hybridization with probes for ribosomal DNA 18S and 5S. The heterochromatic ultrastructure of A. quadricornis and A. polygonius revealed a outstanding heterochromatin content, which may indicate that the accumulation or loss of extensive heterochromatin content could be responsible for large variations in genomic content displayed in different Tetraodontiformes families. The species Cantherhines macrocerus, C. pullus (Monacanthidae) and Melichthys niger (Balistidae) shows a huge karyotypic similarity both numerically and structural. L. laevigatus showed similar cytogenetic features (2n = 44 and single RONs) to the species of the genus Takifugu, which reinforces the idea of their phylogenetic relationships. C. psittacus presented the highest diploid number described for the family (2n = 56) and large amount of HC, features that related with its sister family Diodontidae. Cytogenetic analysis in C. figueiredoi revealed heterochromatic polymorphisms, RONs multiple and Bs chromosomes. These events are rare in marine fishes, and are possibly associated with the strong restructuring and genomic reduction that this family has been suffered. These features, plus the morphological and molecular data suggests that these species share the same ancestral branch, with a possible monophyletic origin. In this study, new contributions to the knowledge of evolutionary patterns facing by Tetraodontiformes are provided and discussed under cytotaxonomyc, genomic and evolutionary perspectives.

O computador no ensino de lígnua inglesa no CEFET/RN

The present study has as goal to analyze the aplicability of the computational technology as mediator in the english-speaking teaching in the Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica do Rio Grande do Norte-CEFET/RN. The object of study was centered in the use of the computer incorporated in the teaching of English by four institution groups. The research was ruled metodologically in the study of case, adopting a qualitative and quantitative boarding of interpretative-reflexive mark. We support ourselves on a bibliographical literature revision that cares of the use of the computational technology matter into the class-room, aiming an education new practice, regarding the current reality conceptions in what we live in the technological education. We also use a referencial for a pedagogical action, trying to offer subsidies for a practice that provides the knowledges generation through the interaction, aiming a subject reflexive and critical education. For materialization of this study, we used esrutuctured action, as interviews for the teachers and students, besides the observations of the dayly in class-room, in order to get the necessary datas for analysis. During this study, we oserved that the use of the computer, while pedagogical support instrument in the english-speaking teaching, has acted like mediator of the teaching-learning process. The results demonstrate use of the computer use has been each more a practice adopted by other institution languages teachers. The conclusions confirm the hypothesis showed at the beginning of the work and evidence that the teachers are warden of forming thinking, reflexive and critical subjects. For that, they need to be prepared to face situations in which they can take the pedagogical practice to tune with the technological advances, consequently providing an effective technological education

A formação do pedagogo-professor no curso de pedagogia: limites e possibilidades na visão de professores formados no campus avançado de Patu da UERN

The inconclusive policies regarding the teaching background, specifically the Pedagogy Course, whose National Curricular Directives DCN were ratified by the Ministry of Education on April 4th 2006, have been causing protest from the various forces within the scope of the university, specifically in the Pedagogy Departments in which, through their professionals, express the several stands about the pedagogue profile, his/her professional acting field and a curriculum that meets the background needs of this professional. This paper tried to assess, from the viewpoint of the student who graduated from the Pedagogy Course and who acts in classroom in the first years of the Elementary School, to what extent this course meets the background needs of the professional who works as teacher. In specific terms it was this paper's objective to identify the most important background needs of teachers who graduated in Pedagogy, who act in the first years of the Elementary School; To list the contributions and limitations of the Pedagogy Course of CAJIM/UERN in the teachers' background, outlined by the graduates of the course; to raise suggestions for the improvement of the teachers' background in the Pedagogy Course of the CAJIM/UERN. In order to turn these objectives viable we opted for the qualitative approach in research, more precisely for the case study methodology, from which we used as instruments for the execution of the field work the observation in classrooms, semi-structured interviews which became the main instrument used for the data construction and analysis. The data analysis process took place through the content analysis technique based in Bardin (2000). The theoretical line is based on the studies from Schön (2000), Nóvoa (1997), Perrenoud (1993), Alarcão (2003), Ramalho (2003) we also used the National Curricular Directives which serve as current Parameter for the Pedagogy courses. The study indicated that the Pedagogy Course contributed for the personal and professional enrichment, however, difficulties in the theory-practice articulation are still present in the everyday life. The theoretical knowledge assimilated, though represent increments to the professional practice, are not enough to enable a pedagogical practice with excellence. There is a need to consider a curriculum in a dialectic perspective, configurator of social and cultural practices sustained by the reasoning as praxis, thus it must not be seen solely in a theoretical plan, mas as a process that builds itself between the acting and the reasoning.

Uma visão local de um projeto nacional: o curso mídias na educação

The essay "A local view of a national project: the course in Media Education" presents a research aimed at analyzing how the course Media in Education is being implemented by both Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte and State University of Rio Grande do Norte, with the intention of pointing out weaknesses in its use, which should be resolved in order to contribute to the design of other courses along these lines. Therefore, we performed a survey in which data collection, have used open questionnaires available in online pages created specifically for this purpose and administered to alumni and former participants, course participants and tutors from the two universities involved in the research. Through these questionnaires, we identified, especially, those aspects that negatively affect the provision of course related to the student's profile, the virtual learning environment where the course is hosted, the meetings, the contents and activities, the mentoring and the dropout, and the changes to improve the implementation of the course. The research collaborators are professors of public basic education. To understand the continuing education of teachers, conducted through distance education, using the virtual learning environment, we contextualize this from the nineties, in the context of the Brazilian educational reform took place in that decade. The Media in Education course is presented as a different proposition because it allows teachers to follow different pathways, materialized in the learning cycle. At the end of the study, we conclude that the implementation of this course, of the RN, the conditions for dialogue to happen, specifically, are not given

Formação de professores, saberes, reflexividade e apropriação da cultura digital no Projeto Um Computador por Aluno (UCA)

This study investigates teacher training and cognitive practice of teachers in a Basic Education school that adopted the Project One Computer per Student (OCS) in their school routine. Its relevance consists in provide directions for the continuation of training activities on the Project and guide the teachers with their pedagogical practices using the laptop model one to one. The thesis defended is that the educator formation for social using of digital media (specially the laptops from the Project UCA) gives space to establish new sociotechnical relationships, of new social and professionals practices, new identitary components and a process of reflexivity and knowledge reconstruction to teach. We reaffirm the importance of reflexivity and appropriation of digital culture for the better development of teaching practice using the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), giving focus to the aspects of social and professional use of the technology. The study is part of the qualitative aspect and is a procedural tracking based on principles of ethnographic research. As procedures and methodological tools, were used: intensive observation of school environments, documental analysis, focal group, semi-structured questionnaires and semi-structured individual interviews. The research was held in a public school in the city of Parnamirim - RN. The subject sample relates to 17 teachers, coming from the elementary school I and II, Youth and Adult Education and High School, who went through the process of training UCA and having entered the laptops in their teaching. The research corpus is structured based on the messages built into the process of data collection and is analyzed based on principles of Content Analysis, specified by Laurence Bardin (2011). Was taken as theoretical reference studies by Tardif (2000; 2011), Pimenta (2009), Gorz (2004, 2005), Giddens (1991), Dewey, J. (1916), Boudieu (1994; 1999), Freire (1996; 2005), among others. The analysis indicates a process of reconstruction / revision of knowledge to teach and work in digital culture, being these knowledges guided by the experience of the subjects investigated. The reconstructed knowledges will be revealed from a categorization process. The following groups of knowledges: "technical knowledges", "didactic-methodological knowledges and knowledges of professionalization" were built on the assumption of ownership of digital culture in the educational context. The analysis confirms the appearance of new ways of sociability when acquiring other forms of acting and thinking ICTs, despite the environment adverse to the reflexivity shared among the teachers. Also reveals, based on the ownership concept present on the data analysis, the construction of meanings of belonging and transformation of individuals into social routes from the interweaving of the teaching practice with the digital culture. Emphasizes, finally, the importance of a training for use of ICTs that exceeds the instrumentation, in other words, what we call "technical knowledges", but taking on its structural basis the shared reflection, the opening for the ressignificance (new meaning) and reconstruction of new knowledges and practices and that really allows, to the teacher, the living of an experience capable of providing socio-technical transformations of their relationships

Avaliação de um programa de educação ambiental não formal: a Caravana Ecológica na visão dos participantes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

O acolhimento no ambulatório de um hospital universitário na visão de usuários

This present study of quantitative/qualitative approach, aims to analyze the outpatient care at the Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes (HUOL), and, having as guide, the reception of the user. In this regard were invited and interviewed 20 users. Besides the interviews, conducted in a period of 45 days, in this same period of time was used a field diary for more significant notes of observations more significant. In the analysis, we drafted the socio-demographic profile of the group and identified their main complaints, problems and suggestions. For this, we have built graphics, tables and pictures, in addition to standing out their testimony, as a resource for better understanding of the subjective aspects. The theoretical reference consisted of documents from the Ministry of Health about the reception and humanization, and the studies of Merhy, Franco, Pinheiro, Matumoto, Mariotti, Teixeira, among others. The results show the ambulatory of HUOL as a privileged space and of credibility, where users commonly, find answers to their problems. However, these same users were unanimous in saying the difficulties they face in obtaining consultations, from the basic unit, until the hospital. Regarding the service, although they feel satisfied as for the assistance received, they list a series of problems, of structural relationship order: lack of visual signalling, information, wheelchairs, hygiene, in the waiting rooms that offer some comfort, besides the inattention of some professionals. In summary, in the study, undertaken now, we cannot say that there is in the reality studied, the reception, in its full meaning, but the HUOL as hospital-school, has all the potential to accomplish it

Articulação ensino/serviço na visão de discentes de enfermagem

It is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach aimed at understanding the impact of the teaching / service between the Nursing College of University of Rio Grande do Norte (FAEN / UERN) and health services in the city of Mossoró / RN on student s learning process. Hence, it was inquired to rescue and over-elaborate the trajectories experienced by students who were graduating in the year of 2009 the Nursing graduation course. It was used, as guidance tool a questionary with both open and objective questions to support the data collection. The data analysis was accomplished based on the precepts proposed by Bardin. The research revealed a clear need of bond establishments with the involvement of the students on services as well as professionals inserted on Academy, in a way that knowledge can be built collectively and the difficulties can be eased.